Habakkuk Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK

NAME OF THE BOOK
1. It is named after the prophet.
2. The name Habakkuk (BDB 287) is related to the similar Hebrew root "to caress" or "to embrace" (BDB 287).
3. In the Septuagint, he is called "Hambakoum," which is an Akkadian term that means:
  1. a vegetable flower
  2. a fruit tree
  3. vegetable
CANONIZATION
1. This book is part of the "latter prophets" (Ecclesiasticus 49:10).
2. It is one of "the Twelve," a grouping of minor prophets (Baba Bathra 14b)
  1. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, together they fit on one scroll.
  2. The number twelve may represent the twelve tribes or the symbolic number of organization. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NUMBER TWELVE.
  3. Their order reflects the traditional view of the book's chronology.
3. Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah form a historical unit.
GENRE
1. Hebrew Prophetic Poetry (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY)
2. The first literary unit (Hab. 1:2-2:5) is a diatribe or a means of communicating truth through a dialogue. It is very unusual for a prophet to speak to God on behalf of the people. Usually prophets spoke for God to the people.
3. The second literary unit is a series of "woes" (Hab. 2:6-20). This is reminiscent of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, which reflect the covenant woes for disobedience.
4. The final literary unit (Habakkuk 3) is a psalm, probably used as liturgy.
AUTHOR
1. This prophet speaks with YHWH concerning Judah. All other prophets speak to the people for YHWH.
2. This prophet fits into the same general period as Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, and Zephaniah. We call these men the Seventh Century Prophets.
3. He is possibly a musician related to the Temple Choir because:
  1. The use of the term Shigionoth in Hab. 3:1. The NASB footnote calls it a "highly emotional poetic form." This is a musical term of unknown meaning, possibly a rest or crescendo.
  2. the use of another possible musical term, Selah, in Hab. 3:3,9,13
  3. use of the phrase, "for the choir director, on my stringed instruments" in Hab. 3:19
4. Surprisingly neither his father or geographical home is mentioned.
DATE (There have been two major theories about Habakkuk 1)
1. The reign of Manasseh (687-642 B.C.). This is usually linked to Habakkuk's place in "the Twelve" and the rise of the Chaldeans, Neo-Babylonian empire (cf. Hab. 1:6).
2. The reign of Jehoiakim (609-598 B.C.). This would put it in the period of Pharaoh-Necco II's sacking of the city and later, Nebuchadnezzar's take-over of the entire area after his defeat of the remnant of the Assyrian army and the Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C.
3. Pseudo-Epiphanius, in Lives of the Prophets, says that Habakkuk is from the tribe of Simeon. He fled Nebuchadnezzar II's advance in 586 B.C. and returned after the fall of the city. He died two years before his return from exile. However, this source is late and unreliable.
4. Habakkuk 2 seems to prophesy the fall of Babylon to Persia. The fall of Babylon was in 539 B.C. and the decree of Cyrus II to allow the Jewish exiles to return to Palestine was in 538 B.C.
5. Habakkuk 3 has no specific historical setting but is a psalm of praise for YHWH's deliverance.
HISTORICAL SETTING ‒ see VI. Historical Setting in my commentary on Jeremiah online.
LITERARY UNITS
1. The book falls into two major sections:
  1. chapters 1 and 2 ‒ a dialogue between the prophet and God
  2. chapter 3 ‒ a psalm of praise for God's control of history
2. The dialogue between God and His prophet, Hab. 1:2-2:20
  1. Habakkuk's complaint against God's slowness to punish Judah, Hab. 1:2-4
  2. God's first answer, Hab. 1:5-11
  3. Habakkuk's moral problem with God's use of wicked Babylon, Hab. 1:12-2:1
  4. God's second response, Hab. 2:2-5
    1. God's plan is sure, write it down, Hab. 2:20
      (1) blessing on faith, Hab. 2:4, 14, 20
      (2) judgment on evil, Hab. 2:5, 6-20
    2. God's people are responsible for covenant fidelity, Hab. 2:4-5 (3:16-19)
    3. God will punish pagan aggression and godlessness, Hab. 2:6-20 (5 woes)
      (1) Hab. 2:6-8, violent aggression
      (2) Hab. 2:9-11, violent aggression
      (3) Hab. 2:12-14, violent aggression
      (4) Hab. 2:15-17, violent aggression
      (5) Hab. 2:18-20, idolatry
3. A psalm blessing for God's faithful acts of deliverance in the past and hope for deliverance in the future, Hab. 3:1-19
  1. God's past acts of deliverance expressed in highly poetic form, using metaphors from (Hab. 3:1-15):
    1. the exodus
    2. creation
    3. the conquest
  2. the prophet's faith and patience in God's deliverance though there is no outward sign, (Hab. 2:4; 3:16-19)
MAIN TRUTHS
1. This is a moral universe. Sin will be judged. Even God's chosen people are responsible for their acts (Gal. 6:7).
2. Even in this fallen world God is still in control of events. He uses evil for His purposes, but it will also be judged!
3. It is acceptable to question God. However, often it is God's presence, not rational answers, that satisfy (Job).
4. This book is the source of Paul's famous theological theme "justification by faith" (cf. Hab. 2:4).
  Evil will destroy itself eventually. God's people must exercise faith in the midst of evil days!
  
  Faith must not be linked to current circumstances, Hab. 3:17-19.